Frederick baker



No. 625,136. Patented May l6, I899.

F. BAKER. CONTRIVANCE FDR SECURING AX HEADS 0B DTHER Tool-S UPON THEIR HANDLES.

(Application filed Apr. 1, 1899.) (Ho llodei.)

i g k 1 V n P v I I znlvl 1... 'A I 1 I E I I l I I I E I, I I I 1 I I I I I I I III: I I I I I I I I I I f I I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK BAKER, OF CAULFIELD, VICTORIA.

CONTRIVAN'CE FOR SECURING AX-HEADS OR OTHER TOOLS UPON TH EIR HANDLES,-

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 625,136, dated May 16, 1899. Application filed April 1, 1899. $erial No. 711,396. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK BAKER, builder,a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Maylands, Kambrook road, Oaulfield, in the British Colony of Victoria, have invented an Improved Contrivance for Securing Ax-Heads or other Tools upon Their I-Iandles, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention has been devised in order to provide a simple and inexpensive yet reliable and conveniently-operated contrivance which will secure ax-heads and other tools upon their handles in such away as to admit of their being readily removed and replaced when desired and at the same time provide means whereby the tool can readily be tightened up in the event of its working loose.

A further object of my invention is to provide a contrivance such as that above referred to which will not require the handles at present in use to be altered to suit my invention, and which will not necessitate any material alteration of the eye of the ax-head or other tool.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical central section of part of an ax, illustrating the application of myimproved contrivance for securing the head to the handle. Figs. 2 and f are similar views to Fig. 1, showing slight modifications of the invention, while Fig. 3 is a planof my improved contrivance shown detached.

My invention consists of a curved lockingpiece A, having the side B adjacent to the handle curved to correspond with the curve C on the rear edge of said handle, while the opposite side of the locking-piece is curved, as indicated at D, to correspond with a similar curve at the back of the eye of the ax, as indicated at E. The locking-piece A has a central projecting wedge F, which fits into the usual slit in the upper end of the handle and forces the sides of said handle outward until it fits the head of the tool in the same way as if it had been wedged outward by the ordinarywooden plugs or Wedges. This projecting wedge F may be parallel from end to end, as illustrated in Fig. 3, or it may be slightly tapering from end to end. It is beving-piece when it is desired to remove the head of the tool from the handle. By making the lower edge of this projecting wedge sharp it maybe driven direct into the end of the handle without requiring the usual sawcut to be previously made therein.

The construction of the fastening contrivance above described necessitates the formation of a curve in the back of the eye. Under some circumstances this might be considered an objection by adding to the difficulty or expense of manufacture. If preferred, therefore, a filling-piece, such as is illustrated at H, might be inserted behind the locking contrivance and be formed Withits rear edge straight or parallel with the opposite side of the handle. Projecting lugs I are provided on each end of the filling-piece II to retain same in position. The same object maybe accomplished by making the back of the lockin g contrivance A straight and shaving down a small part of the back of the handle, as indicated at K in Fig. 4.

Holes L for the reception of a pin or screw may be provided in the end of the lockingpiece, as shown, in order to secure same in position.

It will be obvious that myinvention may be applied to hammers, tomahawks, and many other kinds of tools besides axes.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- The hereindescribed contrivance for securing ax-heads and other tools upon their handles consisting essentially 'of a curved locking-piece, fitted with a central projecting wedge substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained.

FREDERICK BAKER.

Witnesses:

WALTER SYMTHE BAYSTON, EDWIN WILsoN. 

